Who are we?

The Knowsley Parks and Green Spaces Review Board is an independent body consisting of representatives from Knowsley Council, the borough’s Town and Parish Councils, businesses, ‘Friends’ of parks groups and academics.

The Board was created to undertake a review of how parks are currently managed and resourced, and identify options for the funding and governance of parks into the future.

It’s chaired by Gideon Ben-Tovim, Chair of Nature Connected (the Liverpool City Region’s Local Nature Partnership which advises the Local Enterprise Partnership on environmental matters). Paul Nolan, the Director of The Mersey Forest Partnership is the Vice Chair.

Why has the board been created?

Knowsley Council has lost £86m in budget cuts since 2010 and, facing a further £14.8m of cuts up to 2020, can no longer afford the £1.3m per year it costs to maintain parks. We need to explore alternatives which will protect Knowsley’s Parks and Green Spaces for future generations.

If we do nothing it is inevitable that parks will fall into decline or even close.

Update from the Board

The recommendations of the Knowsley Parks and Green Spaces Review Board were accepted by Knowsley Council at a meeting of its Cabinet on 28 November.

The Board has recommended the creation of a charitable trust to run the borough’s parks. This would be funded by the investment of a £40 million endowment, created through the phased sale of up to 10% of parks and green spaces in Knowsley over the next 15 years. Read more.